Corn-planter.



No. 8b0,180. PATENTED'SEPT. 26, 1905. H. F. SPAULDING.

CORN PLANTBR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1905.

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' nventor.

At'tom e ys:

PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905. H. F. SPAULDING.

001m PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1],, 1905.

ANDREW. 9. {HUMAN co. PNOYOLIIHOMAPHERS. WASIHNGYON. n. c.

PATENVTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

No. 800,180. I

' H. P. SPAULDING.

- 001m PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1905.

' a sums-sum a.

7 Inventor.

Witnesses I I Attorneys UNITED sT TE'IsI PATENT OFFICE. HENRY F. SPAULDING, OF CANASTOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA. I

COBN-PLAN' I'ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed m 11, 1905. Serial No- 259,949.

' To all whom it 77mg oonoerm' especially to that class which are knownas check-rowers, the object of the invention being to present awireless check-row cornplanter which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efiiciency and in which the dropping of the charges of seed shall be accomplished positively at regular predetermined intervals in a simple and effective manner. I

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being,however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations, and modifications to which recourse may be had within the scope of the invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the efiiciency of the same may be made.

In said drawings, Figu rel is a top plan view of a check-row corn-planter constructed in accordance with the principles of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 1 are sectional elevations, on an enlarged scale, representing, respectively, the front and rear ends of the adjustable frame in which is mounted the stake or tappet carrying chain and related parts. 'Fig. 5 is a rear end view of the machine. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view, enlarged, taken on the plane indicated by the line 6 6 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view, enlarged, of one of the stakesor tappets and its supporting link or casing.

Corresponding parts in the severalfigures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The main frame of the improved machine includes side members 1 1, which are suitablyconnected with the legs of the axle-arch 2,

, which latter is relatively high and narrow, the

legs being bent outward at their lower ends to form spindles 3, upon'which the carryingwheels 1 are mounted for rotation. Upon the inner sides of the legs of the axle-arch are secured guide members or tracks 5, consisting of channel-bars, the lower ends of which are extended below the legs of the 'arch. to afford bearings for a vertically-movable arch.

member 6. Brace members 7, having horizontally-disposed portions 8, connect the side members 1 of the frame with the track members 5 at some distance below the spindles 3 of the axle. The side members 1 1 may be made 'to converge rearwardly, asshown at 9,

which will thus be nearly balanced upon its pivots. The slots 14 at the ends of the side members support longitudinallyadjustable stub-shafts 15, upon which are mounted freelyrotatable pulleys 16, provided adjacent to their outer sides with peripheral offsets or recesses 17. The pulleys 16 are suitably spaced apart to accommodate between them an endless chain 18, including in its construction a number of links 19 of special construction for the reception of the earth-engaging stakes 20,

which serve as tappets for the purpose of opcrating the seed-dropping mechanism, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The special links 19, of which any desired number may be used in thechain, which latter, in fact, may be constructed exclusively of such special links 19, are equipped with sleeves or casings 21, which are approximately rectangular in cross-section to accommodate the slidable stakes 20. Said sleeves or casings-have been shown most clearly in Fig. 7 of the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen that the casing is provided at the four corners thereof with antifriction-rollers 22, between which the stakemay move freely. Each of said sleeves or casings is also provided at its front and rear edges with laterally-extending arms 23, adapted to engage the pe-' ripheries of the supporting-pulleys 16, said arms being provided at the ends thereof with rollers 24. of suitable diameter to travel in the tracks provided by the peripheral offsets 17 in said supporting-pulleys. The stakes 20, operating in the sleeves or casings 21, are provided near their upper ends with transverse pins or shafts 25, carrying rollers 26. The upper extremities of said stakes are bifurcated and are provided with transverse shafts or pins 27, which project upon the sides of the stakes and carry rollers 28, which are located in the forks 29 of said stakes. The designation upper ends, which has been used with reference to the stakes, applies to the latter when in an upright earth-engaging position.

The side members 11 of the chain-carrying frame, which latter as a Whole is designated F, are connected near their front and rear ends by arch members 30, which are substantially made of wrought-iron or other suitable material and which may be pivotally connected with the stub-axles 15, upon which the chain supporting pulleys 16 are mounted. Said side members 11 support vertically-adjustable yokes 31, carrying a track 32, whereby the earth-engaging stakes are guided and forced into the ground, said track being located between the upper and lower leads of the endless chain 18. The track 32 includes an upper and a lower member, (designated, respectively, 33 and 34,) said upper member being horizontally disposed throughout, while the forward end of the lower member 34 is inclined upwardly, as shown at 35, to the point 36, where it merges with or is continued in the upper track member. The lower track member 34: terminates some distance in front of the upper track member 33. The front end of the track 32 is provided with a guide-flange 36, having an overhanging lip or flange 37. The two track members 33 and as may, if desired, be spaced apart, as by bracket members 38.

Upon the inner sides of the side members 11 of the frame F are placed channel-bars 39, aflording guides for the rollers 24 at the ends of the link-arms 23, the function of said channel-bars being to keep the stake-carrying links evenly spaced above the ground and to obviate any tendency to vertical displacement. Lateral displacement of the frame 1* and its related parts will be prevented by the extended guiding means for the frame-carrying arch 6, formed by the channel-bars 5 upon the axle-arch of the main frame. It will be understood that within the scope of the present invention the side members 11 of the frame F may be grooved or channeled, in which event the special guides or channel-bars 39 will be dispensed with.

Securely mounted upon the side members 11 of the frame F are supporting-blocks 40, having inclined faces etl, adjacent to which are mounted inclined guide members t2, which extend upwardly and rearwardly, the rear ends of said guide members being provided shaped members 43, which are approximately concentric with the axes of the supportingpulleys 16, the points or extremities of said hook-shaped members being extended above the rear terminal of the track member 33.

Pivot-ally mounted upon the spindles 3 of the main axle are independent runner-l'rames eta, which are bifurcated to straddle the carrying-wheels 4 of the machine. The front ends of the runner-frames are equipped with rotary colters 45 and with runners or furrowopeners 4e, seed-tubes 4-7, and boxes or hoppers +L8, of ordinary construction, said boxes containing seed-dropping mechanisms, (not shown,) which are adapted to be actuated by means of rock-shafts -19, which latter are suitably connected, as by means of universal joints 50, with rock-shafts 51, supported in the frame of the machine. The rock-shafts 51 are provided with upstanding arms 52, the latter being connected by tension-springs 525 with fixed points, such as the bracket members 7 of the main frame. An auxiliary frame 54 is supported upon each of the bracket members 7, and said frames are provided with bearings for vertically-disposed rock-shafts 55, provided near their lower ends with lateral arms or tappets 56, extended inwardly in the path of the stakes 20. The rock-shafts 55 are also provided with arms 57, from which flexible members 58, such as wire cords, are guided over suitably-disposed pulleys or guiding members 59 to the upstanding arm 52 of the rock-shaft 51. It will be seen that when the rock-shafts 55 are oscillated by contact of the tappet-arms 56 with one of the stakes 20 the oscillatory movement will be transmittml to the rock-shafts 51, which latter will be rocked in their bearings against the tension of the springs 53 until the tappet-arms pass out of contact with the stake, when the spring 53 will automatically restore the rock-shafts 51 and 55 and related parts to normal position.

The chain-carrying frame l? and all its related parts is supported adjustably with relation to the axle-arch of the main frame by a flexible connection extending from the arch member 6, as best seen at 60 in Fig. 5 of the drawings, to a suitably-constructed windlass 61, supported upon the axle-arch.

Supported upon the frame members 1 1 in rear of the axle and convenient to the drivers seat are obliquely-disposed bracket members including vertically-slotted uprights 62 and a laterally-extending arm 63, having a notch 61-. Slidably engaging the slots 65 in the uprights 62 is a slide member 66. A sleeve 67, preferably square in cross-section, extends between the uprights 62 and is provided with a plurality of transverse slots or notches 68, adapted to be engaged by the slide 66, which constitutes a'locking member. Each of the sleeves 67 is provided at its rear end with a handle 69, and in the front end of each sleeve with upwardly and forwardly curved hook- I is inserted a spring 70, having a stud 71 extending laterally through a slot 72 in the sleeve, within whichthe said spring is thus capable of partial rotation. The lower forward extremities of the springs 70 are suit .ably connected with the front ends of the in rear of their fulcra with foot-pieces or treadles 73 in convenient reach of the driver or operator. The front ends of said footlevers are connected with the runner-frames near the front ends of the latter. seen that by depressing the rear ends of said foot-levers the front ends of the runnerframe may be elevated against the tension of the springs 70, thus enabling obstructions to be cleared by said runners independently of each other. The runner-frames may be susmined in an elevated position by moving the sleeves 67 of the springs 70 rearwardly between the slotted arms 62 and supporting the same at any desired adjustment by means of a slide or locking member 66.

Suitably-constructed drag and cross-row markers, as 75, are hingedly connected with the runner-frames, and the outer free ends of said markers may be retained at various adjustments by flexiblev members 76, suitably connected therewith and having knots or buttons 77 adjustable in the notches 64 of the arms 63.

. From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. By manipulating the Windlass 61 the chain-carrying frame F may be adjusted vertically, thus enabling said frame to be moved upward to an inoperative position, or it may be lowered so as to cause the stakes carried by the chain to enter into the ground to any desired depth.

It will be observed that when the frame F is in its operative position the entire weight of said frame will be imposed upon the groundengaging stakes. The latter may be adjusted in the casings of the special links 19 at various distances apart, according to thefrequency with which it shall be desired to actuate the s'eed-dropping mechanism. Thus if it is desired to plant corn in hills three feet apart the stakes will be mounted in links exactly three feet apart, and it is desired to be understood that the chain-carrying frame is to be of such dimensions that not less than two stakes shall at all times be in engagement with the ground in order that certainty of operation may be insured. As the machine progresses over the ground the stakes which are in engagement with the ground will retain the lower lead of the chain in a relatively stationary position. When the ma;

chine in its progress reaches a point at which It will be the rear end of the chain-carrying frame ap proaches the rearmost stake, which is in engagement w1th the ground, the inclined guide members 42 will pass under the rollers 26 at which the stake is connected passes between the rear pulleys 16 the stake will be guided by the hook member 43 onto the upper portion 33 of the track 32. After traversing said track portion the laterally-extending ends of the shaft 27 will pass under the guide-flanges 37 and the stake will be guided over the front end of the track 32 while the chain passes between the front pulleys 16 until the stake is again inverted and resumes an approximately upright position, when by contact with the inclined portion 35 of the track member 34 it will be forced into the ground, the guide-flange 37 serving to prevent the stake from engaging the ground ahead of time by reason of gravity. The lower track member 34 engages the pulley 28 at the head of the stake, which latter is thus retained se curely in the ground without danger of lateral displacement. As the machine progresses the tappet-arms 56 are actuated by the successive stakes, and the seed-dropping mechanism will thus be operated at regular predetermined intervals.

It will be seen that the stakes of this machine being positively spaced at certain distances apart and engaging the ground at right angles the seed-dropping mechanism will be actuated exactly at the proper intervals and with great accuracy.

' In Figs. 3 and 40f the drawings the links 18 of thechain 18, which are intermediate the special links 19, have been shown as being provided like, said special links, with laterally-extending arms, (here designated 23,) adapted to bear upon the peripheries of the pulleys 16 in order to prevent the chain from sagging or sinking between the pairs of said pulleys. This construction will usually be preferred and is considered to be within the scope of the invention.

-Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is i 1. In a check-row corn-planter, a wheelsupported main frame including an arched axle, a chain-carrying frame having a supporting member guided in the axle-arch, an endless chain supported in said frame, and ground-engaging stakes bodily movable in links of said chain. I

2. A main frame including an arched axle, channel-bars upon the side members of' said axle, a supporting member guided for vertical movementin said channel-bars,a frame con- IIO nected pivotally with said supporting member, an endless chain supported in said frame, and ground-engaging stakes bodily movable in links of said chain.

3. A- wheel-supported main frame, a supporting member guided for vertical movement in said frame, a chain-carrying frame connected pivotally with said supporting member, an endless chain, stakes bodily movable in links of said chain, and a stake-engaging track supported between the upper and lower leads of the endless chain.

1. A pivotally-support-ed frame including side members and arches spacing and connecting the same, pairs of pulleys supported for rotation at the ends of said frame, a chain extending between the pairs of pulleys and including links having arms peripherally engaging the latter and stakes movably connected with said links.

5. In a cheek-row planter, a pivotally-supported frame including side members and arches spacing and connecting the same, pairs of pulleys supported for rotation at the ends of the frame, a chain extending between the pairs of pulleys and including links having arms peripherally engaging the latter, and guides for said arms upon the inner sides of the side members of the frame.

6. In a checkrow planter, a frame including side members and arches spacing and connecting the same, pairs of pulleys supported for rotation at the ends of the frame, a chain extending between the pairs of pulleys and including links having arms peripherally engaging the latter, guides upon the side members of the frame engaging said arms, and earth-engaging stakes slidably supported in the chain-links.

7. In a check-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, groundengaging stakes slidably supported in links of said chain, and a guidetrack for said stakes supported between the leads of the chain.

8. Ina check-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, groundengaging stakes slidably supported in links of said chain, and means supported between the leads of the chain for depressing the stakes into the ground.

, 9. In a cheek-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, groundengaging stakes slidably supported in links of said chain, and means supported between the leads of the chain for extracting the stakes from the ground.

10. In a check-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, groundengaging stakes slidably supported in links of said chain, and means for engaging the stakes which are in ground-engaging position to retain said stakes in such position or against upward displacement.

11. In a check-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, groundengaging stakes slidably supported in links of said chain, a track supported between the leads of the chain and having an upper and a lower member connected at their front ends, a guideflange upon the front end of said track, and flange-engaging means upon the stakes.

12. In a cheek-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, groundengaging stakes slidably supported in links of said chain, and means supported between the leads of the latter for positively driving said stakes into the ground and for positively extracting the stakes.

13. In a check-row planter, a frame supported for vertical adjustment, an endless chain supported in said frame, gromul-engaging stakes connected slidably with links of said chain, and a stake-engaging track adj ustably connected with the frame.

14. In a check-rowplanter, a frame supported for vertical adjustment, an endless chain supported in said frame, ground-engaging stakes connected slidably with links of said chain, a stake-engaging track connected with the frame, and stake-extracting guides supported upon the frame.

15. In a check-row planter, a frame supported for vertical adjustment, an endless chain supported in said frame, grouiul-engaging stakes connected slidably with links of said chain, a stake-engaging track connected with the frame, and stake-extracting guides supported upon the frame; said guides being provided at their rearends with forwardly-extending hook-shaped members for guiding the stakes from the lower onto the upper portion of the track.

16. Ina check-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, ground-engaging stakes slidably supported in links of said chain, a guide-track for said stakes supported between the lcads of the chain and comprisinga lower and an upper member, and stake-extracting guides whereby said stakes will be guided from the lower onto the upper member of the track.

17. In a check-row planter,an endless chain, chain-links having guiding-sleeves, groundengaging stakes movable in said sleeves, guide-rollers upon the sides of said stakes, and inclined guiding means adapted for engagement with said rollers to extract the stakes from the ground.

18. In a check-row planter, an endless chain supported for vertical adjustment, ground-engaging stakes slidably connected with links of said chain, a wheel-supported carryingframe, runners connected with said frame and having seed-dropping mechanism, rockshafts connected with said frame and having tappet-arms extended into the path of the ground-engaging stakes, and means for transmitting motion from said rock-shafts to the seed-dropping mechanism.

19. In a check-row planter, a wheel-supported main frame, a plurality of runnerframes pivoted independently upon said main frame, brackets supported upon the main frame, sleeves adjustable in said brackets, springs movably connected With said sleeves and with the runner-frames to retain the latter in adjusted position.

20. In a check-row planter, a wheel-sup ported main frame, a plurality of runnerframes pivoted independently in said main frame, brackets supported upon the latter,

sleeves adjustable in said brackets, springs movably connected With said sleeves and with the runner-frames, and foot-levers connected With the runner-frames for adjusting the latter against the tension of the springs.

21. In a check-rowplanten'a Wheel-supported main frame, a plurality of runnerframes pivoted independently in said main frame, adjusting means for said runner-frames including tension-springs, and lever means for independently adjusting said frames against the tension of the springs.

22. In a check-row planter, a Wheel-supported main frame, a chain-carrying frame supported for vertical adjustmentin said main frame, an endless chain, ground-engaging stakes movably connected With links of said chain, stake guiding, driving and extracting ing into the path of the ground-engaging stakes, and means for transmitting motionfrom the latter rock-shafts to the spring-actuated rock-shafts to move thelatter against the tension of their actuating-springs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of-two Witnesses.

HENRY F. SPAULDING.

.Witnesses:

R. H. ARMSTRONG, BEN PETERS. 

